BELMONT Hills head pro Brian Morris began his 24-hour “golf-a-thon” yesterday morning at the Warwick course in an effort to raise money for his cousin Lori Mello who is undergoing very expensive treatments for Diffused Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.And money has been pouring in all week for the 24-year-old Bermudian.

Dwayne Gibson from the Belmont Hills pro shop said yesterday: “We have raised in excess of $60,000 and I expect even more people to be donating money. It is fantastic to see this — Bermudians coming to the aid of a fellow Bermudian.”Morris is scheduled to finish his “round” at 8 a.m. this morning.

The golf pro wanted to do something to help his cousin with the huge medical costs and at first he thought of a charity tournament. But as he told The Mid-Ocean News last week: “You only can raise two or three thousand dollars with a tournament.”

Then he hit upon the idea of a 24-hour “golf-a-thon”.

Morris said he expects to play “about 200 holes” before he stops this morning.

Gibson said: “What Brian is doing is great. In fact we even received a call from a representative of Bridgestone this morning who said he would be sending a cheque for the fund. It is wonderful to see people coming to help — especially at this time of year.”

Mello has endured numerous rounds of gruelling chemotherapy and radiation treatments to battle the cancer that has ravaged her young body.

Her insurance company is only covering 75 percent of the cost of her treatments — treatments that will save her life.

People can contribute to the fund at Belmont Hills pro shop or:

Rob Burns at MCS Ltd. on 295-0913, ext 221

Kara Medeiros on 534-2509

Lauren Mahoney on 534-2158

Jennifer Morris on 505-2308

Sharon DeSilva (mother) at sharond@northrock.bm